Treasurer vows to cut Queensland jobless rate in mini-budget

Geoff has been working for the QT since August 2011 covering Ipswich’s rural areas. He started working for APN in January 2010 with the Chinchilla News in western Queensland after growing up on a grain farm. Geoff spends his time out of work watching far too much sport following the Reds, the Broncos and various American teams.

That's treasurer Tim Nicholls' claim - even though Queensland has the higher unemployment in mainland Australia.

Announcing the mid-year budget update in Brisbane this morning Mr Nicholls said the government was committed to its goal to get unemployment to 4%, although it expected it to be at 5.75% in 2016.

"I think Queensland expect their government to work hard for them to make sure there are opportunities for jobs," he said.

"And the targets we set ourselves, we set it back in 2012, was 4%. We remain committed to going as hard as we can to achieve that target.

"We're not giving up on that target nor are we going to give up on trying to find more jobs for Queenslanders. We absolutely remain committed to achieving that target."

But Labor Shadow Treasurer Curtis Pitt says unemployment had gone up under the LNP.

"Almost three years after promising to have our state heading towards a 4% jobless rate, all the LNP has delivered is a 6.9% rate seasonally adjusted for November - the highest unemployment in mainland Australia," Mr Pitt said.

"Queensland now has the equal-highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the nation along with Tasmania.

"The trend unemployment rate, also at 6.9% in November, is the highest it has been since May 2003. At the 2012 election, the trend unemployment rate was 5.5%"

Mr Nicholls announced at the budget update decreasing coal prices, agricultural output due to the drought, and Federal Government disaster funding coming earlier than expected resulted in a nearly $1 billion revenue shortfall.

However, he said the government would still return to fiscal surplus in 2015-16.

"This sets the foundation for restoring confidence, building a stronger economy and creating jobs," he said.